Pauline 'Ready Writer' Lewis

Friday, 21 July 2017

‘Publish and be damned.’ I suppose many of us have heard of
this quotation, famously attributed to
the Duke of Wellington, when threatened by blackmail. For the sake of this
blog, I am changing it to ‘Publish and be blessed.’

‘I hadn’t thought of being published,’ a friend told me,
when sharing some nuggets of truth he had recorded on his smart phone.

Well, neither had I. A friend had her title ready for the
day when she might write her memoirs, but I had never thought of going into
print. (Not quite true. I had written some short stories, and been encouraged
to get them published, but that was long forgotten.) Writing a diary to send to
the folk back home was all I had time for while working abroad.

But now, my missionary adventures behind me and settled
into the sometimes routine of a pastor’s wife, I knew God was calling me to
write. Three times I had heard his voice
through the words, ‘What is that in your hand?’ My only answer had to
be, ‘A pen.’ (Yes, I had certainly never thought God would expect me to use a
computer. There are always surprises in store once we take the God road.)

After other God-incidences confirming my call, an advert
for a writing course had plopped onto
our door mat. It’s title - Writing for
Profit. Not many months later I received
a cheque for £20 from the Christian Herald, in acknowledgement of the short
story I had submitted. I was on cloud nine. Somehow I had never expected to be
a published author, but here I was, on the road.

Many more successes followed, though many rejections too; and rejections are always
painful. But now, many books, articles,
yes and blogs too later, I know my
calling to write includes a call to
encourage others not only to write, but to have courage to go on to be published. For in publishing we are
putting our heads above the parapet and
likely to be attacked. Hence this blog.

You may be more
familiar with the words that ring out in Handel’s triumphant chorus –‘Great was
the company of the preachers.’

‘Great was the company of those who published it,’ is an
alternative translation, much loved
by Bible translators. After all, what
good would those long years of labour be, when a language would first of all be
reduced to writing, the complexity of grammar, often tone too, understood,
and now at long last the Bible, or parts of it, ready to be printed. Even now it is worthless unless
there is developed in the people an appetite to read and to hear the voice of
God through these pages. Only then lives
are changed. No wonder there is need of prayer for every stage of this great
task. ‘Great was the company of those who publish it.’

Joel and I became the means of establishing the South Wales
Ready Writers. We meet together once a year and have been inspired and
encouraged by various speakers. Our local monthly Ready Writers has dwindled in
numbers over the years, but continues to encourage and inspire, helping us to
develop the discipline of writing regularly.

We are not all going to be published by recognised
publishers. Unless you are already well known, your autobiography is unlikely
to be accepted. However, with computer skills ever increasing, self-publishing
has become a viable option. A friend had
self- published before being taken on by main line publishers. It was he who
published my ‘Wings of the Morning.’

I have a poem
published each month in our local Seaside News. The editor may not be
selective, but never the less there are many readers who say my monthly poem is
the first thing they look for in this excellent magazine.

So, if you feel a call to write, or even if you are not
sure about it being a call, but just love to write, just think about the
possibility that God might want it published. When Jesus warned his disciples
that they would face persecution, he told them that ‘it would be turned to a
testimony.’ We all undergo trials and
difficulties, so let’s be ready to share the precious lessons we learn through
them. We may not be likely to preach to thousands, but let’s be among the great
company of those who publish od’s message.

I thank God for that first writer’s course that plopped
onto our mat, and for a wise husband who encouraged me to enrol. It was my
tutor who taught me how to approach an editor, how to set out my manuscript,
and then, the invaluable skill of turning a novel into a page turner. Some of
us may have had a good education in literature and grammar while at school, but now, with writing inspired by
the Holy Spirit, we need to learn how to hone our skills and craft our words so that they will pierce the
defences that men have formed around their hearts so that they will pierce through that hard top-soil and reach down into their hearts.

Thursday, 22 June 2017

I’m sure it was a miracle when I began to read. I could
chant with the others c-a-t, but how that came to mean ‘cat’ I had no idea.
Then suddenly I could read. The page full of words all made sense to me. My
elderly next-door neighbours were delighted that I could read to them from the
paper, while my sister, two years older than I, was most annoyed that I was
reading and enjoying books that were for her age.

When we were evacuated, our class was taken to a library, a
new experience for me. The teacher tried to steer me towards books more
suitable for an eight year old, but once she found I was enjoying the
collection of fairy tales I had chosen she would call on me to tell stories for
her to the class.

Once I was teaching, my method was no longer confined to phonetics, but I still believe
there was a measure of the miraculous when the children are able to enjoy
books, and that we should have faith in those who appear to be slow learners,
trusting for the miracle in their lives too.

Yes, we believe in a God of miracles, and for little Aaron
there have been many miracles. His mother
believes it was a gift from God when she first realised her little baby
had cataracts forming on both eyes, for it was Christmas Day, and it took a
series of miracles from then on; for with no competent surgeon in her own
country, they found a surgeon in UK willing to operate, if they could bring him
before he was six months old. An on going
series of miracles, for finances, accommodation – every need was met.

Soon she had a happy bespectacled toddler, wearing glasses, yes, but with an amazing
love for books.

Certainly, the ability to read has been a miracle in
Aaron’s life, but I believe it needs more than the ability but also an appetite for us to enjoy
reading. I’m afraid I did not have a
healthy appetite, for in my teens I was devouring novels all day long. I was already in my twenties when God opened
my

heart to receive Jesus as my Saviour, and my eyes to find the wonderful
stories that were in his book, the Bible.

At that time they had brought out the Revised Standard Version
of the Bible. It was my brother John who gave me a copy. What a gift from
heaven. In large, clear print, and in somewhat simpler English, not only was it
full of wonderful stories, but I found God was speaking to me through his word.
To read it was not just a duty, but a
delight. Now I have learned to say with the Patriarch Job, ‘I esteemed the
words of your mouth more than my necessary food.’

Eye sight – what a blessing it is! As well as schools,
teachers, and books. We should not take such things for granted. But most of
all the Bible, God’s book, the Bible, and in our own Mother tongue. What a
gift, and all wrapped up in the greatest gift of all, Jesus, God’s only Son.

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Well, not really an escape, but we, the members of Grace Community Church, had left the daily round for a very special time of blessing.We were not at Barton’s Camp, our venue for the last three years, since last year we had only managed to squeeze in the 70+ who had gathered. This year we were at the Poplars, a beautiful family farm near Ledbury, who specialise now in growing people.It was through the Common Market that the farm had to have all its fruit trees cut down, and so, seeking alternative productivity, the young family had felt God’s call to open their premises especially for Christian families. Here there was provision not only for the youth. While many were allocated to dormitories, Janet and I were shown to an odd little building, but with every creature comfort – en-suite, comfy beds and even a wardrobe! Yes, there was a rota and you had to take your turn for cooking, cleaning etc, but there are advantages to being in your eighties. How thankful I was that my name was not there.

We soon found the kitchen, where one of Ross’s curries was bubbling away, not to mention the apple crumble to follow. And yes, this year there was a luxurious lounge, with space for young as well as older. How good it was to see some of our college students who had joined us in order to help to look after the children, for of course we had not just come for fun and games, but in order that we might meet with God through his word.Not only did we have comfy chairs in the lounges, but in the Pack Hall, the huge barn once used for storing the fruit, but now used for our meetings, where we were hopefully storing up God’s word in our hearts. There was ample seating, room to worship God, yes, even in the dance, but also more comfy chairs along the side, for us oldies, (older anyway). Lewis Roderick, co-pastor from Christchurch, Newport, was our guest speaker. We had a short service of welcome on the Friday evening, when Lewis gave a short overview of his ministry concerning being united with Christ, enough to assure us that it would not be dry doctrine, but concerning a living, vibrant relationship with Christ. Then back to the kitchen for hot chocolate, joy, hugs and eventually most of us were settled in our cosy beds.A frosty, sunny morning, and after bacon butties for breakfast, and prayer, most of us were sitting out in the glorious sunshine before we made our way to the barn with expectant hearts.I won’t attempt to give you a synopsis of Lewis’s ministry. I know what impacted me. Remember I had been anxious about how far away I might be from the Saviour when I got to heaven? Now God was showing me that I wasn’t going to heaven in order to be a spectator to the triumph of the Lamb. Jesus died for each one of us that together we might be part of the celebration, for we, the church, are not only his body, but his bride. We will have no place there as an onlooker, but as the joy and delight of our heavenly Bridegroom, the marriage feast of the Lamb. Oh, what joy.Marshmallows round the bonfire was a special activity rounding off the day, made complete by a wonderful blaze of coloured lights against the backdrop of starry blackness. (learned from the Maori’s I am told - )Sunday morning was a very special time of family celebration, including ‘Messy church’ with meaningful handwork at each table, and then the highlight of our celebration when we broke bread together. It was at the discretion of the parents as to how their children were included, and for one birthday girl who had very recently committed her life to Jesus, it was her first communion.Back for our last ample dinner and then it was clearing up, loading of cars, - the great photo shoot and we were on our way. We are so very thankful for all those who had been planning and working throughout the year to make this such a successful time. Our hearts are still brimming with thankfulness to God who is knitting our hearts together and making us a small part of the universal church of Jesus Christ.

Thursday, 27 April 2017

These last three years I have been able to
go to Nichlaston House for a ‘Looking forward to Easter’ retreat, only this
year, although it was only Monday to Friday in our timing, we travelled in our
meditations from Maundy Thursday, right through to the day of Pentecost.

We were encouraged to participate in
imaginative contemplations so that God might speak to us through our
imaginings.

I was so happy to participate in this, as
my writings and poems all come out of pictures God gives me. And I have learned
to teach our children to pray by putting
a chair for Jesus, asking them what they
would like to say to Him and then imagining what he says in reply. I know that
God speaks to me very often through my imaginings.

So when Sam (Samantha) placed an empty chair
for Jesus, and then asked us to sit quietly and see what we imagine happens
next, I was wonderfully blessed.

The next morning I sought to catch the joy
of that time into words:

‘An empty chair? But you are there

I run, I kneel, and know my pain you feel

What joy we share at that empty chair.’

I won’t attempt to share all my
meditations, but I remember how, as I stood with the crowd on that dusty
Jericho road, it was not only the poor blind man who was calling out to Jesus,
for I too had called out to Jesus, and together we had followed .

I too felt troubled and convicted in the
Upper Room when Jesus told us that one of us would betray him, and I also
experienced the tremendous surge of joy as the Holy Spirit came in mighty power
on the Day of Pentecost. But out of all these meditations, I think I was
impacted the most when Sam asked us to picture ourselves responding to God’s
call after the veil of the temple had
been rent in two.

You see, I had come with a special need. I
often long for heaven. Is it those we have been closest to who will be in our
special reception committee? I like to picture it so. But our greatest hope and
longing is that we might see our Jesus face to face. But with all the multitude of the redeemed
gathered throughout the ages, and those who have done so much, surely I will be
far away. Will he, who is King of kings and Lord of Lords, even see me in the great throng?

But now, in my godly imagining I stood
before the rent veil, the new and living way that had been so miraculously
opened for me through the death of my Saviour. I heard God’s voice. He called
me by my name. ‘Come. You must come alone.’

I came. I was welcomed as if I were the
only one for whom God gave his Son. Not a plain chair this time, but a glorious
throne. But then, taking me by the hand, he drew back another curtain so that
we were looking out to a universe redeemed. There, from every nation and people
and tribe and tongue, all were there worshipping our Saviour.

Among this great throng there was a place
for me. The Father reminded me of Jesus’ words, ‘I go to prepare a place for
you.’ he told me, ‘He has prepared that special place for you. His eye is
always on you. How could he fail to be aware of you?’

I drove home on Friday
morning, knowing that each of us in the small company who had gathered had been deeply blessed. Doubtless we had all
come with our individual needs, and God was sending us each on our way, deeply
satisfied, knowing we could face all that lay ahead of us in the joy and power
of our risen Christ.

Wednesday, 12 April 2017

It was such a privilege to have been among
the many who gathered for this wonderful service of thanksgiving, and so I felt
I should try to share some of the blessing.

How
deeply we feel the loss of this great man of God, David Ollerton. Ours was not
the privilege of those who have already crossed the river, and are among the
joyous company who gathered to be part of his abundant entrance into the
Kingdom of God. Yet we had that
foretaste of the kingdom as, maybe a thousand or more of us, met in the ample
facilities of Christchurch, Newport, and sang some of the old hymns of the
Welsh revival, and some of the newer ones, also deeply meaningful, which David
had taught us.

‘His children will arise and call him
blessed.’ It was wonderful to see so many of his children, and grandchildren
too taking part, while our dear Liz, who has been so strong for David in all
his trials, and now for all of us too,
had doubtless choreographed it all.

Some of the youngest of the ‘Tribe’
recounted how their Taid, as they called him, had learned to memorise Psalm 121
at his grandmother’s kitchen table, and now, each speaking a few verses in
turn, they spoke it out strongly. ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills.’ No
wonder they have become a family of mountaineers.

It was David and Liz’s two daughters, Ruth
and Joy, who between them read to us the history of David’s fruitful life,
while their husbands too had been included in the service.

We could not have had such a service
without the Gospel being preached. David had placed this responsibility on his
very capable son, Andrew, also in the ministry, but before he did so, it was
thrilling to hear his wife, Charlotte, declaim a selection of verses from
Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians. And now, like Elisha, it seems a double
portion of his Father’s anointing, is now upon him.

The whole of this wonderful family behaved
with charisma and dignity throughout this moving occasion. But who could not
help but feel deep emotion in the face of such a parting. It was only at the
end of such exemplary preaching that his son paused a moment to
regain control of his own emotion, and somehow this seemed so fitting. They
set an example for us all, for David,
with Liz, and their children too, have sown so much into our lives, and he will
be so greatly missed. It was they who planted our fellowship in Porthcawl,
pastoring us for the first two years until,
because of health he could no longer continue.

While in remission, with the measure of
health he had, he knew he had to make Wales Wide his priority, but he continued
to mentor Tom and Laura, who have so capably taken on his role of pastoring,
and has loved and supported us all from afar.

An awe inspiring picture of David towered
over us, by means of the screen, so life like, in his mountaineering gear, and
standing by the cairn he has built, just a stone or two at a time. It is his
Ebenezer. For even in the last painful months when he endured a course of
chemotherapy, yet again, - yes, for our sakes, even though, like Paul, he
longed to be with Christ, which is far better, he had slowly, painfully, yet
joyfully, climbed the gentler slopes of Fan Fawr, raising funds for Felindre,
and building his Ebenezer – a thanksgiving to our faithful God.

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

I was honoured to be invited to at a
special service because someone in my
family was to be ordained as an elder. It was to be at the Temple in Penygroes,
known as ‘the Mount,’ - a place of significance to many brought up in the
Apostolic church.

After the ordination, the young couple
were commissioned to be part of a team involved in pioneering
work into West Wales.

Not only was I thrilled for their sakes,
but especially because of the honour this is to our family, fruit of that sown
into their lives by their godly parents and grandparents; of those who have
passed on the baton.

But I was thrilled on another count. And
this is what I believe God wants me to share. For at this time we cannot help
but grieve as another great man of God seems to be drawing very near to
Heaven’s gates. Glory for him, but for those left behind, the pain of bereavement.
For through his fervent prayers and his ministry in Wales Wide he was surely
passing on the baton to this young couple as they are taking on his burden for
Wales.

It was while in this
service I felt I must write the following in acknowledgement of David, one of
God’s greatly loved Apostles, who among other things was used to lay a firm
foundation for our fellowship in Porthcawl.

God’s
Mountaineer

Oh
God, creator of the rugged ranges

Thank
you for those with heart of mountaineer

Loving
the great outdoors of open spaces

Facing
the fiercest climb with glad good cheer

Thank
you for those who count each climb a challenge

Taking
their strength from God to face each step

Nor
fear the final peak that’s yet before them

Knowing they’ll
soon be present with their Lord

Oh how we thank
you, Lord, for those like David

His joy to lead us
all to claim the heights

To gain new
strength for every climb before us

And so possess the
land in God’s own might

So may we hear
God’s call to face the mountains

To know we each
can be his mountaineer

To claim new
heights nor fear the steepest valleys

To walk, e’en as
he walks, with glad good cheer.

It is so important for each of us, in our endeavour to follow our
Lord, to prepare to pass on the baton to
those who follow after.

‘The teachings you heard
from me, commit to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also,’ was part of Paul’s
commission to the young Timothy (2 Tim 2:2) So the Kingdom of God will grow.

When I trained to teach Bible Explorer, part of our commission was
that we should pass on the baton, to get others involved in this specific
ministry. Teaching this inspirational course for over ten years, I have sought
to inspire others to become involved, but now not only is my natural
strength declining, it seems this door
of opportunity in the schools might be closing too, at least in this area. But
though we must accept that we can’t go
on for ever, and ministries may change, part of me knew that if I gave up now I
would be failing in fulfilling my
commission.

But as I saw a definite link in these ministries to the Welsh
areas, I felt God reassuring me that we don’t always see the links God is
forging, not the plans he is working out, but we must continue to pray and to
trust that others will take up the baton, while we must continue to pray, as
Jesus told us, ‘to pray the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth
labourers into the harvest.’

Watch this space! God has been speaking to me, to give the doors
into the schools one more push, while reassuring me that he will continue to
renew my strength, and that I will rise up on wings like eagles even as I seek
to be obedient in passing on the baton.

Be assured, God has asked me to share this because he has special
ministries for each one of us, which we must commit to faithful ones who will
be able to teach others also. Let us pray for each other.

Thursday, 16 February 2017

Yes, I am moved into my new flat. Some say I am in the pent
house, but I call it my Eagle’s Nest.

Many years ago I was
given a card by one of my students at the Apostolic Bible College, where
I was lecturing on children’s work.

Now it has a place of honour. Titled ‘Eagle Christian’, it
is of an eagle, standing alert on some rocks, as it views the land, while the
text is, ‘The glory of the Lord shines out as one rests in him.’

So here I am, resting in the Lord, in this beautiful
apartment God has provided for me, and asking him to teach me to live as an Eagle
Christian.

Firstly, I am trusting him to renew my strength so that I
my rise up each day with wings as eagles, for
moving house is certainly exhausting, and takes courage and strength.

A lovely cosy home, - almost too warm first thing in the
morning, I open a window for a few minutes and breath in the sweet fresh air,
then switching on a lamp, I open my
curtains even though it may still be dark, in faith that the morning is coming,
and ‘as surely as the day dawns’ as Hosea says, open my heart for all God has
for me for this new day.

Once the morning is here I look away, above the back yards
that are down below, over the roof tops, to the strength of the mountains
beyond. Even if I cannot see them through the mist, I know they are there. I am
told an eagle is able to turn his head full circle, but I have to wait to see
the sea until I walk along the corridor, and passing the lift, look from the
window across the harbour to Ogmore.

We admire the eagle for its nest- making skills in the
bleakest of places. And of course the purpose of a nest is for raising young.
God is reassuring me that with him, I am never too old, and he is continuing to
anoint me with fresh oil in my various ministries.

God has made me so sure that this move was his best for me.
He has appointed the places we live, as Paul told the people of Athens. And I
have been filled with joy as I have been ‘playing house’ with my limited, but
more than adequate space. I am amazed to be living in such luxury, but then I
remembered that I had just as much joy in brightening up some of my little
homes, such as they were, when in the Highlands of New Guinea. I am proving the
words of Madame Guyon,

‘While
place we seek or place we shun, the soul finds happiness in none,

But with
my God to guide my way, ‘tis equal joy to go or stay.

Quietly I am getting to know all these wonderful senior citizens who like me, have moved into Stoneleigh court, determined to maintain independent living, all so brave and positive, and friendly. But we all have deep deep needs, though we may strive to keep them hidden, and I pray this Eagle Christian, with those others already here, may be used to spread God’s wings of love so that none of us may need to fear the time when we are leaving earth, buthave assurance of the mansion Jesus has gone to prepare for his own.